Can-labeling machine.



J. G. SHULTS.

CAN LABELING: MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEIT. 2, 1911. RENEWED AUG. 12 1912.

Patented May 6, 1913.

5 SHBETSSHEET 1.

4 J. G. SHULTS. CAN LABELING M'Acmixfs. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1911.RENEWED AUG. 12, 1912.

- Patented May 6, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

J. 0. SHULTS. CAN LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1911. RENEWED AUG.12, 1912.

1,061,021 Patented May 6, 1913.

5 SHEETSSHEEI 3.

J. c. SHULTS'.

CAN LABELING MAGHINB. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1911. RENEWED AUG. 12,1912.

1,061,021. Patented May 6,1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

J. SHULTS.

CAN LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1911. RENEWED (1.12, 1912.

1,061,021 Patented May 6, 1-913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

JAMES C. SHULTS, OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOE T0 RUSS AUTOMATICLABELING 00., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented may 6, 1913.

Application filed. September 2, 1911, Serial No. 647,428. Renewed August12, 1912. Serial No. 714,707.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. SHUL'rs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Meadville, in the county of Crawford and State ofPennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Can-Labeling Machines, of

which the following is a specification.

' My invention relates to improvements in machines for aflixing labelsto sheet metal cans and similar articles containing canned commodities,articles of food, etc, and the same is designed as an improvement uponthe device shown and described in Letters Patent granted to George F.Russ, November 2nd, 1909, No. 938897, with the object of performing allthe functions incident to feeding, moistening, pasting and conveying thelabels from a receptacle to the can and feeding the cans, wrapping thelabels around the same in the most approved manner and delivering thelabeled cans from the ma- -by endless conveyers to meet the cans. The

cansjare fed to the machine one at a time and at the end of the feed areengaged at their ends by revoluble yielding clamps. The pasted labelsare fed on to an endlessapron aving a moistened surface and a swmgmg armassociated with the apron elevates a art thereof encircling the samewith the abel around the can. As the can revolves, the label is causedto adhere thereto by the pressure of the apron. This armmoves downwardto an initial position after the wrapper is pasted on the can, theclamps are released and the can rolls down the apron and away to asuitable receptacle, the operations as stated, being successivelyrepeated with each can.

The fuller recital of the device and the operations thereof willhereinafter be more particularly set forth.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a d agramsuperposed labels into maticlongitudinal section representing the essential features of myinvention. Fig. 2- 1s aside elevation especially representing the devlcefor operating the several parts of the machine. Fig. 3 is a plan of'theright hand machine at the humidor or label moistening device. Fig. 7 isa vertical section representing the preferred fornnor group of devicesfor applying the label to the can. Fig. 8 is an elevation showing theintermediate gear devices for raising parts associated withapplying thelabel to the can.

' Similar letters and numerals of reference indicate the same parts.

The rectangular open frame is preferably mounted on corner legs, shownespecially in Figs. 1 and 2, the same supporting the devices of theentire mechanism, and 1 prefer to employ a device for holding a pile ofsuperimposed labels, similar to the device shown in the before namedRuss- Patent No. 938897, in which 2 represents a side and 3 an end ofthe receptacle, 4 represents the bottom of the receptacle and 6represents pins that are uprightand adjustable and which form thesubstantial equivalent of the other'side of the receptacle, stops beingprovided for the pins.

. a represents a shaft in suitable bearings and (1 segments on thisshaft a, which I) preference are rubber-faced. The bottom or support 4for the labels is cut away so as to provide for the operation of thesegments a a.

These segments, in their rotation with the rotation of the shaft a, takehold of the bottom or lowermost label and'advance the same out frombeneath the pile of the bight of the forwardin rollers 5. I

The evices for moistening the labels with water and hot vapor and whichI term a humidor, comprise a wheel or'drum b preferably with hollowtrunnions and spokes b from the trunnions to the periphery of the wheel.The trunnions are mounted in bearings b and I prefer and have shownpipes c as connected to an X-head extending from a pipe 0 through thetrunnions and the pipes c terminating in arms 0' which are perforatedspecially on their outer surfaces. These drmn not o'ontein Within the ttomtions s stone ep et the port Wheel h the rollers e at under dthto B ih-M.

1 e tilt) wlz yl wl ieel or dtut stow-o e Ut tomes the helts 6, end helehels they removed t'rogressiveiy from the superposed the 'eeeptseleeess between the to over the belts e, seemed the heed roller e end theehetvveero the said belts and the :telt covering t" or e Wheel 0 beinguided in their move; to his series 0t ve 'tioelly disposed gels reghledes a supported upon the stay-hats. e end which guide hledes etespeoed of the .vvheel or drum i end its COWEI. 'lhe belts e become Wetes they pess through the tvetoiin the tsnlt, at end consequently theythoroughly moisten the telt covering f ol seid Wheel or drum. The heatof the Wheel oi: demo from the steam "within heats the felt so that themoisture thereof is being oonstently eveporeted in the term ot s heetedvep'oi", end es the labels pass between the belts e end the surteee ofthe roller, they see not only thoroughly moistened but eon-1 siclereblyheated. However they are not moistened sulhciently' to be so ssturetedas thereetter to drop any wastes in their move,

went through the meohine. The labels pess elmost entirely eround theWheel or drum in teens-it end on the opposite side ere guided by theblades a over the left-heed roller 8 end into the devices of the machineto be pasted. Adjacent to these posts is loeeted vpests or edhe'sivemateriel holder 9' in the term of e trough, in which is loeeted e rollerg. By its t'evolution, this roller g litts out ot the trough on itssurlfece the pests or adhesive materiel. A distributing roller 9 runningin oonteet vvith the tollet' g! and in the opposite direction thereto,removes the paste or adhesive metet'iel at least to e required extentfrom the surface of the roller gt, end the lebels es they pass over thelett-hend roller s and the belts thereon; are lifted by the svvitehWires 9 and directed toward therollets 3 h, the labels then passingbetween the TOllQlS With the etedl heroes the sutl eee opposite l econveveo so; rollers l t, lb. vided with the piste heses 1 losereither'u several belts lsbels let gross s'n" mention v both sides 9helpose of labels upon ten. end

1 suit eble supports sine edept o eedlg egsinst the upper portseohveyet' belts 71 so as to press the some the auxiliary belts lt ispretei'eh a hut for mtsing end lowetlr u tension rollers and l prefer toemplo 1 separate 7 tension rolls? under esoh of the helts it so thattension to the desired may he lied on any 0t the belts lndepehdent otthe e to employ too others. l also employ tension lOllEIS i to draw thebelts e" toward the helts lt will be noticed that the conveyor helts,the ribs on the auxiliary belts and the tension rollers come closelyadjacent the de livery end Where the nested lshel is placed upon thecan, end as these cans are of more or less uneven sut'taeebecause of theribs and the edge of the cover 01 lid it is s last that more tension isrequired on the side of the label that goes over the lid end heed thenon the other side, so as to ep i'eeiebly. stretch this edge of thelabel, Wheteh v when the entire label is on the can the edges of thelebel-lep-up even and parallel. This to quired tension is imparted byeither or both of the rollers it end a? and edjustsble devicessupporting the some, wherebvmoie or less force is applied which causesthe ribs z" tOlOBftt egeinst the posted lebels upon the belts-h,'holding the same end heterding their tree discharge from the supportof these belts h to the bite otthe apron 7s and the can beingleheled.

The devices for Wrapping the leb'el on the con and for supplying thecons one at s time to said devices, consist of the follow ing potter-tnendless s eets guesses its Elli

lldll around rollers 16, 17 and 18, Fig. 7, the roller 18 beingjustabove the water in the tank. A brush roller 19 is employed in the tankand provided with means for rotating the same in a direction opposite tothe rotation of the roller 18, for the purpose of continuously wettingthe surface of the apron 7c and removing from the surface of the apronor belts any free paste that may have been delivered thereon andsqueezed out from between the label and the can as the label is pastedon the can, and

so washing the apron that when the apron leaves the tank of water, itleaves the same clean without any paste or' other particles. A pair ofswinging arms is are upon the shaft of the roller 17 and their free endscarry a roller 70 around whichthe apron also passes.

I provide heads 20 adapted to come against the respective ends of thecan these heads are formed with spindles 2] passing through suitablebearings a. Each spindle is provided with a cam 22 and there. is anadjacent fixed arm 23 having a pin acting .in the groove of said cam forr moving the said spindles and heads, one or both, in oppositedirections, so as to open and close the distance between the heads toreceive the cans as delivered, and' thereafter to release the same. Ineach bearing n, aroundthe spindle 21, is a spring 24, serving to makesteady the movement of the spindles in pressing the heads against theends of the cans to hold-the same tight and in taking up any lostmotion. The arms 23 are fixed upon or formed with the bearings for theshaft 21 on the upper guide arms 31 secured to an inclined platform 32down which the cans to be labeled descend by gravity. This arm 30 isalso pivotally connected to the head 28 by a sliding pivot 33,that is apivot sliding or moving in a slot in the top of the head.

A power shaft 0 runs along one side of so the machine and is mounted. insuitable hearings in the upper ends'of the standards 34, and I provideapair of, bevel gears 35 for operating the right hand roller 6 and linegears 36 for actuating'the rollers 35 5. I also provide bevel gears 37for actuthe pasting rollers g,.g%.

I provide a swinging arm 30 pivoted toand are prepared to roll down iscommunicated through the rollers e to the endless belts e and therefromto the wheel or drum 1) for the operation-of moving the labels one at atime through the humidor. I also provide bevel gears 38 adapted foractuating the line gears 39 and Bevel gears 40 'ating the left handroller 6 whereby motion a communicate motion to the roller 11 andtherefrom to the endless conveyer belts it while bevel gears 42 alsocommunicate mo-' tion to the rollers'12 and 14 of the belts h andauxiliary belts Bevel gears 41, are employed to transmit rotation frontthe power shaft 0 to the cam 26, so as to operatethe arm 27 and the camactuating devices.

In connection with forwarding the labels as pasted over the'endlessconveyer belts h,

1 have shown and prefer'to employ series of guide rollers i which servewhile the pasted labels are lying loose and free on the belts h, tostraighten the same if the edges are out of true right angle with theline of travel. At the end'of the power shaft 0 there are stan'dardsvoand on the end of the power shaft there" is a pinion 43, meshing withthe bevel gears .44 and 45. The bevel gear '44 is on the shaft 51 andthe bevel gear 45 is on the shaft 46 in a standard 0 On the shaft 48, inbearings in-the standards 0, there is a gear 47 meshing with the. gear46,-and also intermittent gears 49.

I have shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 8, on the revoluble parts, arrows whichshow thedirection of rotation. Fig. 8 shows one of these intermittentgears 49 as containing a few teeth and a plain radial surface, and alsoin Fig. 8 one of the arms is and the hub end of said arm which containsteeth and a concave surface 50, the teethbeing in mesh with the teeth ofthe intermittent gears 49; therefore as the gears 49 are rotated bytheir shaft 48 through the medium of the gear 47, the gear 46, bevelgear 45 and the conical pinion 43, these intermittent gears turn in thedirection of the arrow and raise the arms 70, elevating the same intothe position of said arms shown in Fig. 2, and when in thls position,the concavesurfaces 50 of their hubs,-the arc of which agrees,

with the arc of the surface of the intermittent gears 49,holds the-armsis in the elevated position until-the intermittent gears 49 come aroundto their reduced diameter,

at which point the arms is are permitted to fall into theposition shownin- Fig. 7, at which time, in the timing of the movements of themachine, the cans have been labeled a suitable receptacle.

On the shaft 51 to which rotation is imparted by the shaft 0, throughthe conical pinion-43 and thebevel gear ,44, there are connected gears52 and on the shaft 21 there the belt 70 to I are the large gears 53meshing with the gears 52 and receiving their rotation therefrom. Theheads 20 between Which the cans to be labeled are clamped, are alsoconnected upon these shafts or spindles 21 so that rotation is impartedto the cans as labeled, by the gears 53 and 52, and the shaft 51.

Inthe further operation of the device and with specialreference to Fig.-7, as the arms 27are moved upand down bythe cam 26, the swinging arm 30is moved downward into the position shown in Fig. 7 and its curved lefthand end partially encircles the foremost can on theplatform 32 andkeeps the same in position while the'grip of the said arm 27 and itshead 28 upon the can held thereby brings said can down into the trueposition between the heads 20 where the can s clamped, and in the timingof the parts, at once the can is clamped, the arm 27 and head 28 arequickly raised and the spring dogs 29 yield over the surface of the canas held, and as'the arm 27 and head 28 again come up into the positionshown in Fig. 1,

the armBO at'its left hand en'd, releases the advancing can and the samerolls down into the head 28 supportedby the spring dogs 29; the lefthand end of the arm meanwhile bears against the second can so as toprevent the same rolling forward until the next downward movement of theparts in re p'eating the operations.

I have shown at 54 in connection with the distributing roller g? and itsgear 39, means for adjusting the position of this distributing rollerwith reference to the several parts associated therewith,

In the further operation. of. the device of my improvement, the swingingarm 30, as in Figs. 1 and 7 controls the can at the end of the inclinedplatform 32, preventing the same shifting as the can-holding devicesmove down to deliver a can and rise empty. The heads 28, at the end ofthe arm or arms 27 are slightly wider apart than the length of the canto be labeled, consequently, the cans come between them. In the positionFig. 7, the heads 20 engage the ends of the can and hold the same tight,and as the heads 28 rise, the dogs 29 over-run the can,

and then spring into place ready to receive the next can, which isreleased from theplatform 32, as soon as the arm, 30 assumes theposition Fig. 1, with the free bent end against the next advancing can.These spring dogs 29 aresufiicient' to hold the weight of each can. Theheads 28 must be concave, as shown, to permit of the heads 20 coming upto and engagin the ends of the can. The apron k, wit the pasted labelthereon, is moved from the position Fig. 7 to the position Fig.1, assoon as the can has been engaged by the heads 20.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a can labeling machine, devices forconveyer devices receiving and for moving apron havin forwarding labelsone at a time from the bottom of a superposed pile, revoluble devicesfor moistening the labels, devices for, pasting the unprinted surface ofeach label, the pasted labels from the pasting devices, auxiliarydevices for applying tension in transit to the pasted labels, devicesreceiv:

' ing, holding, and for revolving cans to be labeled one at a time, anendless apron having a part running in proximity tothe re volving canand receiving the label to be pasted thereon, swinging devicesassociated with the endless apron for diverting the path of part of theapron and wrapping the same partly around the can in the labelingoperation and'so pressing the label firmly upon the can.

2. In a can labeling machine, devices for forwarding labels one at atime from the bottom of 'a'superposed pile, revoluble devices formoistening the labels, devices for pasting the unprinted surface of eachlabel, conveyer devices receiving and for moving the astel labels fromthe pastingdevices, auxiliary conve er 'devices for applying tension intransit to the-pasted labels, devices receiving, holding and forrevolving cans to be labeled one at a time, an endless apron having apart running in proximity "to the revolving can and receiving the labelto be pasted,-thereon, devices for moistening the surface of said apronand removing therefrom any surplus adhesive material, swingingdevices'associated with the endless apron for diverting the path of partof the apron and wrapping the same partly around the can in the labelingoperation and so pressing the label firmly upon the can.

'3. In a can labeling machine, devices for forwarding labels one at atime from. the

'bottom of a superposed pile,'revoluble devices for moistening thelabels, devices for pasting the unprinted surface of each'label,

conveyer devices receiving and for moving the pasted labels from thepasting devices,

auxiliary conveyer devices for ap lying tension in transit to the pastedlabe s, devices receiving, holding, and for revolvingcans to belabeledone at a time, an endless a partrunning in proximity to the revolvlngcan and receiving .the label to be pasted thereon, swinging devicesassociated with the endless apron. for diverting the path of. part ofthe apron and wrapping the same partly around the can in the labelingoperation and so pressing the label firmly upon the can, and devicesreceiving the unlabeled cans one at a time from a source of supply anddelivering the same-- into the machine to be labeled.

4:. In a can labeling machine, the combination with a receptacle forholding a super-' posed pile of labels and means for forwarding thelabels one at a time from the bottom.

of the pile, of a wheeler drum, devices within the same receiving steamfor heating the drum, a series of endless belts in parallel extendingaround the larger portion of said drum, rollers around which the beltspass and for moving the same, a receptacle for water through which saidbelts pass, a weighted roller in said receptacle for holding said beltstaut and beneath which they pass, and guide blades above said drumwhereby the labels one at. a time pass between said drum and said beltsand are deflected into and carried-around between the belts and the drumand delivered from the opposite side.

5. In a. can labeling machine, and in combination, a receptacle forholding a superposed pile oilabelsiind means for forwarding the labelsone at a time from the bottom of the pile, a wheel or drum having asolid periphery, hollow trunnions, intermediate spokes and bearingstherefor, a felt strip around the periphery of said wheel or drum,

a pipe for steam passing through one of.

said hollow trunnions and provided with branching arms and dischargearms for the steam at right angles thereto within said wheel or drumwhereby the drum and the felt coveringare heated, plates ,at the sidesof said drum, rollers spaced around the drum and hearings in saidplates, a tank for water beneath the drum, a loose vertically movableweighted roller in said tank, rollers in the upper part of said drumspaced apart and having bearings in said plates,aseries of guide bladesbetween the latter rollers extending over the drum and its feltcovering, and a series of endless belts arranged parallel and passingaround all of the said rollers through said tank beneath the weightedroller and with their inner portions in contact with the felt coveringof the drum, whereby the feltcovering is moistened and heated and theendless belts are moistened and labels passed one ata time between themoistened belts and the moistened and heated felt covering for pre-'paring the labels for the pasting operation.

(3. In a can labeling machine, the combination with means for moisteningthe labels one at a time, of a receptacle for adhesive material such aspaste, a roller therein, a

distributing roller receiving the paste from the aforesaid roller, labelsu porting rollers beneath the distributing roiler but out of closecontact therewith, switch wires for rereiving the moistened labels fromthe moistening devices and directing their path to the pastedistributing roller, and other switch fingers for removing the labels-aspasted "from the paste distributing roller and diverting their path oftravel.

7. in a can labeling machine, the com binntiun with means for applyingadhesive material to the surface of the labels and diverting their pathof travel, of a series of endless eonveyer belts, rollers around whichthe same pass, a series of. superposed auxiliary eonveyer' belts, stripsof metal forming ribs mcured to {the said auxiliary conveyer beltsacross the same at right angles to their length and; adapted to bearupon the endless conveyer belts for gripping the pasted labels andevening the same n transit, and means for applying pressure or tensionto any one or a number of the endless conveyer belts as against theauxiliary belts and their ribs, whereby the pasted labels may be held inthedesired places and perceptibly stretched, and means co-actingtherewith for applying the labels simultaneand devices connected withsaid apron and operated at predetermined intervals for moving the apronand oneof the rollers and causing the same to be elevated and embrace apart of the revolving can so that the label is partly wrapped aroundthe-can as pasted.

thereto.

9; In a can labeling machine, the combination with a series ofconveyer'belts for forwarding the. pasted labels, of devices forprogressing the cans to receive the labels, devices for engaging thecans at their respec tive ends and holding and rotating the same, anendless belt or apron receiving thepasted labels one at a. time asforwarded, and suitable rollers upon which the same is mounted, devicesconnected with said apron and operated. at predetermined intervals formoving the apron and causing the same to embrace a part of the revolvingcan. so that the label is partly wrapped around'the can as pastedthereto, and means for returning the apron to its initial position,whereby a part of the same in an inclined plane, forms a delivery forthe can as labeled and released.

10. In a can -labeling machine, thecombination with the power shaft andaconical pinion on one end thereof, ofa bevel tar and a shaft on whichthe same is fixe a bevel gear and line gear and an arbor there for, ashaft below the power shaft and a line gear thereon meshing withtheaforesaid line gear, intermittent gears also on the latter shaft,devices for engaging the opposite ends oif a can to be labeled, andgears connected therewith and extending to the first aforesaid shaft forrotating the cans, an endless apron and devices operated by saidintermittent gears Ior imparting to the apron a swlnging motion so as towrap a art of the apron over the revolving can in pasting the labelthereon.

11. In a can labeling machine, the combination with the power shaft anda conical pinion on one end thereof, of a bevel gear and a shaft onwhich the same is fixed, a bevel gear and line gear and anarbortherefor, a shaft below the power shaft and a line gear thereonmeshing with the aforesaid line gear, intermittent gears also on thelatter shaft, devices for engaging the op posite ends of a can to belabeled, and gears connected therewith and extending to the firstaforesaid shaft, for rotating the cans, an endless apron receiving aseries of rollers around which the apron passes, a pair of arms andpivots therefor, the free ends of the arms carrying one of said rollers,the hub of said arms being provided with teeth engaging the teeth of theintermittent gears, and said hub also having a smooth concave portion 50adapted to overlie the smooth periphery of the intermittent gears forsupporting the arms and belts in an upright position and said gears alsohaving a part of reduced radius permitting the arms and rollers todescend to an initial position.

.12. In a can labeling machine, the combination with endless conveyerbelts for forwarding the pasted labels and devices for holding the canto be labeled, of an endless apron, rollers around which the sameextends and by which the same is rotated, devices for actuating saidrollers, a tank for water and a brush roller in said tank, means forrotating the brush roller for moistening the surface of the endlessapron and for washing therefrom any surplus paste.

13. In a can labeling machine, the combination with endless conveyerbelts for for-* warding the pasted labels and devices for holding thecan to be labeled, of an endless apron, rollers around which the sameextends and by which the same is rotated, devices for actuating saidrollers, a tank for water and a brush roller in said tank, means forrotating the brush roller for moistening the surface of the endlessapron and for washing therefrom any surplus paste, devices associatedwith one of the rollers around which said endless apron passes, andmeans for actuating the same and raising the apron at one side so as tocause the same to partially encircle the cans to be labeled to insurethe perfect placing of the labels around the cans.

14. In a can labeling machine, an inclined platform down which the'cansto be labele are delivered, a swinging arm and a head at the free end ofsaid arm, a device pivotally mohnted to said head and also pivotallmounted to a part of said inclined plat orm, and spring actuated cansupporting devices connected to said head, whereby the cans one at atimeare received from the said platform in said head and the cans on theplatform restrained in their movement, and means for receiving from saidhead in its lowest position the cans and holding the same, and othermeans for holding the rotating devices.

15. In a can labeling machine, the combination with a power shaft, ashaft at right angles thereto and a cam thereon, means for communicatingrotation from the power shaft to the cam shaft, an arm and a suitable,support to which the same is pivoted,

a roller carried bysaid arm and actuated by said cam to raise and lowersaid arm, a head upon the free endof said arm adapted to receive a canto be labeled, spring dogs connected with said head for carrying theweight of the can, a platform down which the cans descend to be labeled,a swinging arm pivoted to a partof said-platform and having a curved endto pass over the periphery of the can, said arm at its free end beingpivoted to said head in a slot thereof, whereby when said head movesdown with its arm, the pivoted arm swings and changes its relation tothe head so as to hold back the cans on the platform in one position andin the other position to perunit the first can to rotate in the head andsimultaneously hold back the second can.

Signed by me this 24th day of August, 1911.

JAMES C. SHULTS.

Witnesses:

Jornv SoHULnR, C. M, Boosn.

